Cisco acquires StrataCom for strategic networking

Cisco Systems, a supplier of enterprise networks, has acquired StrataCom, a producer of ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) frame relay switching equipment, raising its market value above such giants as McDonald's and British Telecom, according to a BusinessWeek survey.

'Companies are increasingly looking to one strategic supplier to take care of all their networking needs,' William Messer, Cisco's North Asia managing director, said.

'By integrating StrataCom's ATM and frame relay technology, we will become the only vendor capable of offering end-to-end connectivity across public, private or hybrid networks,' he said, adding the industry needed to come to grips with market changes.